NIGK13008U Ecology and Ecosystems
Science in relation to Environmental Economics

Knowledge about ecosystems ecology is essential for evaluations
and analyses within the field of environmental and natural resource
economics. Through lessons, case studies and excursions the student
will be introduced to various aspects of ecosystem structure,
functioning and processes in different terrestrial ecosystems
(forest, agriculture, grassland etc.) that are of special
importance to the practical application of economic theories,
methods and instruments taught in subsequent economics courses in
the M.Sc. in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics.

Impacts of a large range of human activities on ecosystems
and their services: climate change mitigation (carbon
sequestration, turnover of organic material, greenhouse gas
balances and emissions of non-CO2 greenhouse gases
etc.); nutrient balances and soil fertility (fertilization,
eutrophication etc.); water balances and water quality
(evapotranspiration, discharge to ground water and surface water
bodies, water quality); biodiversity (habitats and organisms).
Human activities include land management strategies in different
sectors (forestry, agriculture etc.), including climate change
adaptation; land-use changes (afforestation and deforestation,
conversion to perennial crops in agriculture); bioenergy feedstock
production (residues from forestry and agriculture, energy crops
and plantations, carbon neutrality and payback time); waste
management, recycling and phytoremediation (sludge, waste water,
bioashes from combustion, e-waste).

The topics are related to contextual policies, such as the UN
Climate Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, the EU Water Framework
Directive, the EU Habitat Directive, the Ramsar Convention, the EU
Renewable Energy Directive, the EU Waste Directive, and the Danish
bioash legislation.

The aim is to give the student an in-depth understanding of the
ecology of various land uses, such as forestry and cropland and
grassland, the interactions among them at the landscape level and
the impact of the land management on various ecosystem functions
and services to society. The student should understand the
ecosystem processes and the reasoning behind the use of various
management tools in different ecosystems according to specific
management goals. Temperate ecosystems will be in focus, but the
principles will be general and relevant for other biomes. Global
environmental challenges and perspectives will also be addressed
and project work allows the students to apply the general knowledge
to cases in any part of the world. Economist guest teachers will
introduce the use of ecological knowledge in economic valuation
studies and policy design. The course finally facilitates students’
sound use of ecological assumptions and models in environmental and
natural resource economics.

Explain how ecosystem structures, functions and processes and
biological diversity are controlled by factors such as climate,
parent material, topography and potential biota, and how they are
affected by human management and activities, including climate
change.

Describe principles of sustainable management.

Explain the concept of ecosystem services.

Skills

Analyse and assess how structures, functions and processes of
ecosystems are influenced by natural and human-induced
environmental changes in specific geographical contexts.

Critically read, understand and apply scientific literature on
quantitative and qualitative impacts of natural and human-induced
environmental changes on ecosystems.

The student will draw 1) a question related to the curriculum
and 2) one of the four submitted project reports. The report is not
graded but the theme of the report forms the basis of the second
half of the oral exam. The student will have 25 min preparation
time after drawing the question and report.

Exam registration requirements

Four project reports passed

Aid

All aids allowed

Marking scale

7-point grading scale

Censorship form

External censorship

Re-exam

Four project reports passed no later than two weeks before the
re-examination.